Every reseller has that one sale that reminds them why they love this business.
For me, it wasn’t just a lucky find; it was proof that consistent tracking, research, and workflow discipline really pay off.
Here’s a full breakdown of one of my most profitable flips this month, how I sourced it, calculated ROI, and what I learned from the process.
The Find
A few weeks ago, I was scanning the toy clearance aisle during my usual sourcing run.
On the bottom shelf sat a LEGO Star Wars 75337 AT-TE Walker marked down from $139.99 to $59.00.
I checked current marketplace listings right there using my phone:
- Average sold price on eBay: $130 – $150
- Active listings: about a dozen
- Sell-through rate: roughly 70% over 30 days
Everything checked out. The margin looked strong, and demand was steady.
I bought two units.
Listing Setup
Back home, I followed my standard workflow:
- Photos: clean white background, 6 angles per box
- Title: LEGO Star Wars 75337 AT-TE Walker – New, Sealed (2022 Set)
- Category: Toys & Hobbies → Building Toys → LEGO
- Price: $149.99 (Buy It Now)
- Shipping: Calculated, using 3 lb box via USPS Priority
- SKU:
LEGO-75337-ATTE
I also added the keywords Star Wars Clone Wars LEGO Walker to the description for SEO subtle, but it helps with Google visibility.
The Sale
It sold on eBay six days later for $144.99.
The buyer paid instantly, and I shipped it the next morning.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Buy Cost | $59.00 |
| Sale Price | $144.99 |
| eBay Fees | $18.85 |
| Shipping + Packaging | $12.40 |
| Net Profit | $54.74 |
| ROI | (54.74 ÷ 59.00) × 100 = 92.7% |
| Days to Sell | 6 |
| Profit per Day | $9.12 |
For a single item, that’s solid, but scaling this process across dozens of similar flips is where real profits build.
Why This Flip Worked
Several factors made this a win:
- Discount Depth: 57% off retail, verified by scanning both online and in-store.
- High Demand Category: LEGO Star Wars sets consistently outperform generic toys.
- Limited Supply Window: It was a mid-cycle set (not retired yet but trending).
- Fast Sell-Through: Priced competitively at market average, not the highest.
- Clean Listing Process: Great photos, keyword-rich title, and fast shipping.
These are the same principles I apply to every product; this one just aligned perfectly.
Comparing with Other Flips
For context, here are three other flips from the same month:
| Product | Buy Price | Sale Price | ROI | Days to Sell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funko Pop! Spider-Man #593 | $10.50 | $22.99 | 58% | 14 |
| JoyToy 1/18 Mecha Figure | $39.00 | $72.00 | 47% | 9 |
| LEGO AT-TE Walker 75337 | $59.00 | $144.99 | 92% | 6 |
The difference isn’t luck, it’s product selection and workflow speed.
The LEGO set turned faster and produced nearly double the ROI of similar-category flips.
Lessons Learned
- Speed matters: Fast-moving products generate faster compounding returns.
- Brand matters: LEGO’s collector market keeps prices stable even during clearance cycles.
- Presentation matters: Quality photos and strong SEO titles improve both clicks and conversion.
- Systems matter: Because I already had SKU, profit tracking, and ROI formulas in place, I could see results clearly without extra work.
How ROI Tracking Made the Insight Clear
Without a tracking system, this flip might’ve felt like “just another sale.”
But when I logged it in my ByteConn-style spreadsheet, the data showed something bigger:
This SKU had the highest profit per day in my inventory that month.
That insight guided my next sourcing trip. I went back to check other stores for the same set, bought three more, and repeated the process successfully.
ByteConn Philosophy: Turning Data into Better Decisions
This is exactly the mindset ByteConn was built around.
Tracking ROI and sell-through at the SKU level transforms your business from reactive to strategic.
Instead of guessing what to restock, you’ll know which products deserve reinvestment based on actual performance.
The data tells you what to buy next and what to avoid.
FAQs
Q: Do you always buy multiple units when you find a good deal?
Only after confirming sales history and demand consistency. I test one or two first, then scale up if ROI and sell-through are solid.
Q: How do you decide the listing price?
I checked the last 10 sold listings, and the price was around the median, not the highest. Selling faster with solid margins beats waiting for the top price.
Q: What if the product doesn’t sell quickly?
After 30 days, I lower the price by 5–10%. Fast turnover keeps cash moving, which often matters more than squeezing out a few extra dollars.
Actionable Takeaways
✅ Always scan and verify demand before buying.
✅ Track ROI and profit per day for every product.
✅ Use SKU systems and clear workflow steps.
✅ Price competitively to accelerate sell-through.
✅ Reinvest in proven products backed by real data.
A single profitable flip is nice.
But when you track, analyze, and repeat, that’s how small resellers grow into scalable businesses.